Retrenching

1 definition found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Retrench \Re*trench"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Retrenched}; p. pr.
     & vb. n. {Retrenching}.] [OF. retrenchier, F. retrancher;
     pref. re- re- + OF. trenchier, F. trancher, to cut. See
     {Trench}.]
     1. To cut off; to pare away.
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              Thy exuberant parts retrench.         --Denham.
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     2. To lessen; to abridge; to curtail; as, to retrench
        superfluities or expenses.
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              But this thy glory shall be soon retrenched.
                                                    --Milton.
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     3. To confine; to limit; to restrict. --Addison.
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              These figures, ought they then to receive a
              retrenched interpretation?            --I. Taylor.
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     4. (Fort.) To furnish with a retrenchment; as, to retrench
        bastions.
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     Syn: To lesen; diminish; curtail; abridge.
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